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• Maresca: Chelsea 'not ready' to compete for trophies with Man City and Arsenal

  Enzo Maresca says that Chelsea "are not ready" to compete for major trophies against Manchester City and Arsenal this season.

  The Blues have made a strong start to life under Maresca, losing just two of their 10 matches so far.

  They are currently on a five-match winning run in all competitions, most recently seeing off Gent 4-2 in their Conference League opener on Thursday.

  So far, Chelsea have scored 27 goals under the Italian, with 15 of those coming in the league, outperforming their 12.2 expected goals (xG), and only failed to score in their opening Premier League match against City.

  However, Maresca has insisted people should not get carried away by Chelsea's recent form, playing down their chances of lifting any silverware this campaign.

  "I really don't think we can compete with City or Arsenal," Maresca said.

  "I really don't think that, because we are not ready. The reason is that City has worked with the same manager for nine years and Arsenal for five years. If you want to compete for big things, you need that time.

  "After Arsenal beat PSG [in the Champions League] they asked Luis Enrique, and he said the same thing, that Arsenal have had the same manager for five years and [PSG] only a year and a half.

  "Imagine us, only three months… so it's a huge difference. So, I am really convinced we cannot compete with those clubs."

  Before Maresca's appointment, Mauricio Pochettino only spent a season at Stamford Bridge, while Graham Potter before him was only in the position for just under seven months.

  After another busy transfer window for Chelsea saw them bring in 13 players, Maresca has urged for patience as they continue to find their footing in the early stages of his tenure.

  "The target is to improve and slowly, slowly to get closer to those clubs but at the moment we are not ready for that," he added.

  “There is no timeframe because you can continue to improve and add solutions to things always.”

  Chelsea face Nottingham Forest at home on Sunday in their final match before the international break. 

• Popp to bring curtain down on illustrious Germany career

  Germany great Alexandra Popp has confirmed her impending international retirement.

  Popp, the captain of Germany's women's team, will play her final game for her country on October 28, against Australia.

  The 33-year-old has played for Germany since 2010, and has scored 67 goals in 144 appearances.

  She won gold at the Rio Olympics and claimed bronze in Paris this year, while also leading Germany at two World Cups and skippering them at the 2022 Euros, in which they reached the final before losing to England.

  "I have always stressed that my gut will make the decision, and now it has," Wolfsburg's Popp said in a video posted on social media on Monday.

  "After long, tearful deliberations, I have decided with a heavy heart to end my career with the national team. The fire that ignited in me 18 years ago and grew stronger from year to year has now almost burnt out.

  "It was always important to me to make this decisive decision myself, from within myself. Neither my body, which is a ticking time bomb, nor another person should get ahead of me.

  "Before the fire is completely extinguished - because then it would be too late - the right time has now come."

  Popp missed Germany's Euro 2013 success due to injury.

• Al Kholood 2-4 Al-Hilal: Koulibaly on target as champions move to summit

  Al-Hilal withstood a late Al Kholood rally to move top of the Saudi Pro League following a 4-2 victory at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

  The damage was done during a late first-half surge by the reigning champions, who leapfrogged Al-Ittihad to the summit of the table.

  Al-Hilal broke the deadlock in the 38th minute through former Napoli and Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who finished after Renan Lodi initially struck the woodwork.

  Malcom doubled the lead four minutes later, then Ali Al Bulayhi made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time.

  Former Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest defender Lodi then got in the act to make it four within three minutes of the restart.

  The hosts finished the contest the stronger of the two sides with Hammam Al Hammami and a William Troost-Ekong penalty halving the deficit, but that rally could not prevent the visitors from remaining perfect after their first five games.

  Data Debrief: Al-Hilal remain perfect

  Al-Hilal have won each of their opening five games in a Saudi Pro League season for the third time in their history, also achieving the feat in 2010-11 and 2018-19.

  Jorge Jesus' side also continued their dominant record against newly promoted clubs, having now won each of their last nine such matches.

  Despite their late surge, Al Kholood suffered their third defeat of the season, though there was individual cause for celebration, as former Al-Hilal player Mohammed Jahfali came on for his 200th Saudi Pro League appearance.